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Ralph Lauren Faces Student Backlash

15 October 2013

Ella Alexander

Picture credit: PA Photos

PARIS art school L'École des Beaux-Arts has been accused of
turning its hallowed building into a "venue for socialites",
following Ralph
Lauren's catwalk event last week. The brand has donated $1.5
million to fund a two-year modernisation project, but students and
professors at the college recently launched a petition urging the
school to decline requests with "non-educational motives".

The petition and recent protest was prompted by the brand's catwalk show, staged by the label last week to
launch the refurbishment programme and attended by stars
including Catherine Deneuve and Princess Charlene of Monaco. The
event forced the closure of workshops for three days while
preparations for the show were underway, although lessons continued
as usual - contrary to reports suggesting the opposite.

"The school does not belong to Ralph Lauren…We are artists and
we are not in a society venue," commented professor of sculpture
Emmanuel Saulnier.

Last week, students and professors met with the school's
directorship to discuss Ralph Lauren's plans and the way in which
the college deals with funding. They argue that more money should
be put towards the quality of teaching, rather than the restoration
of the building.